Praying With Empathy
There are times when I can feel like my prayers are just lip service and other times when it feels as if it is my heart praying the words instead of my mouth. As I’ve been praying for the people in Haiti, I’ve noticed something. My prayers have almost been tear-led as I empathize and imagine the suffering that the Haitians are going through. It’s almost as if I am praying from their perspective and my heart is connected with them and with God in a way that seems more powerful and meaningful than other prayers. I have a stronger sense that my prayers are being heard by God as God feels the true compassion that I feel for these hurting people.
I hope that you have felt this sense of connectedness with the Haitians and with God during your most recent prayers. If not, then I invite you to imagine what it would feel like to lose a child or mother in such a tragedy, or what it would feel like to be pinned under concrete for 50 hours without food or water before you were rescued. What would it feel like to not know if family and loved ones survived or not? Now that you’ve pondered such things, you are ready to pray for your Haitian Brothers and Sisters. Praying for others begins with empathizing and having compassion for what others are going through. I am thankful to be partnered with you in prayer as we continue to lift up those who were affected by this terrible tragedy.
Michael Maroon, Pastor of Prayer